GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORGHUM AS INFLUENCED BY POPULATION DENSITY AND TIME OF INTRODUCTION OF COMPONENT OKRA

A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete, and the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) to investigate the growth, yield, and intercropping advantage as influenced by population density and time of introduction in sorghum/okra intercropping. Four population densities of okra (100 %, 75 %, 50 %, and 25 %) were intercropped with the full population of sorghum at the same time (ST), two weeks before (2WBP) and two weeks after (2WAP). Sole sorghum and okra were included in the treatments as a check. The treatments were arranged as 3 x 6 factorial combinations in a randomized complete block in a split-plot and replicated thrice. Plant height, leaf area, grain, and fruit yield of sorghum and okra were influenced by population density and time of introduction. Regardless of population ratios, the yield of sorghum increased as the population density of component okra decreased and with delayed in the time of introduction. The lowest grain yields 1,534.58 kg/ha and 1,327.83 kg/ha respectively for Malete and NCAM were obtained where the full population ratio of both crops was intercropped. Intercropping advantage as measured by land equivalent ratio (LER) and land equivalent coefficient (LEC) indices demonstrated intercropping advantage at all population ratios and time of introduction. All population ratios and time of introduction tested demonstrated economic advantage as observed in positive monetary advantage index (MAI) values. Simultaneous planting and planting sorghum two weeks before okra at a full population of both crops is recommended for adoption in sorghum/okra intercropping.